New Beginnings

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. John 5:24 KJV

Spring is just about here in 

the San Luis Valley, 

which means lots of preparation for new life.

We can't plant seeds outside just yet, 

but I've started plants indoors to give them a head start.

I can't wait until I can start gardening outside.

I bought some of my seeds from Seed Savers Exchange and the rest from Walmart and other local stores. 

We have plants running out our ears and I still have more to sow.

I have around 45 chicken eggs set in my incubator. 

I keep the humidity in my incubator around 45-50% and temperature about 99°F. They are due to hatch on the 26th of April. My record hatch is about 19 chicks, hopefully this year I can hatch more. 

I am so exited for hatch day!!!.

After this batch of eggs I will try to hatch ducklings for the first time.

Hope you have a great day and God bless.

The Beauty Of Winter

 

So far it has been a quiet winter here in the San Luis Valley.

 

 

Although it is freezing outside,  our hens have done well to provide us and our customers with eggs this winter.

 

 

Here is a picture of the snowman my dad and I built, on the side are some fresh grape fruit my uncle Richard sent us from California.

 

 

There are many preparations that we must do to prepare for spring such as
buying and starting seeds,

rototilling the garden, prepping soil, fertilizing the grass, and more 

 



 

I have already ordered baby chicks due to arrive the first of June. I also plan to hatch chicks in my incubator this spring.  and I am thinking of trying my hand at hatching ducklings as well.

I am so very  excited! :)  

 

Our cats are not to pleased about all this snow.

We still have a couple more months of trying to stay warm from the valley's cold. 

And next up is the spring winds.



 

 

Hope you enjoyed.  Have a great week, stay warm, and God bless.

 

P.S I am so ready for flip flop weather.

 

October Harvest

I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers ~ Anne Of Green Gables

 

Enjoying fall, looking back at summer and getting ready for the winter chill.

 

 

This year we had a large yield of tomatoes. In our kitchen we use tomatoes for

salsa, spaghetti sauce, salad, pizza, and much more.

 

 

 

In the garden we harvested

garlic, pumpkins, potatoes, sweet peas, corn, zucchini, red beets, and more.

 

 

Speaking of harvests, there is nothing like the feeling of finding a small, fuzzy, chirping baby chick in the silkie's brooding nest, so far we have six. Though they are not in season they are a very welcome sight.

 

 

 

Because of the colder weather, the chickens have cut back on laying production.

 

 

We live where there is a very short growing season, so we must soak up the warm weather that is swiftly taken over by frost.

 

 

Here is the last look before the flowers froze.

 

 

Molly, our rambunctious pup (looking so innocent in this picture) liked to pick our pink gladiolus but only the pink, which just happened to be my favorite ones.

 

 

Next year I plan to have a flower box just for cutting flowers.
 

 

Our leaves have almost gone, thanks to the valley winds, and before we know it we'll have a dusting of snow.

We make the most of the last warm days of the year, will we still can.

I am sad to see summer go but I must admit I am looking forward to the holidays!. :)

 

 

Hope you enjoyed, thanks for stoping by and God bless. ~ Ramona

A Friend of Man and Protector of Chickens

 

Keeping the farm in line would be chaos without mans best friends and we have four such friends

 

  

Charlie is our American cocker spaniel. He was our first chicken dog and he taught
Bridget to herd and care for the chickens, now that he has passed the torch to
Bridget he enjoys sleeping the day away.

 

 

 Bridget is our Border collie/Aussie mix she protects the flock from
stray dogs, hawks, ravens, and other wild life, when she is not patrolling
the yard.  She enjoys playing with her tennis ball.

 

 

Molly is our mixed breed chicken dog in training, at night she helps alongside Bridget and Charlie to put the chickens to bed. although  it is a work in progress Bridget is trying her best to be a good teacher. When she is not tagging along with Bridget she enjoys playing in the sprinklers.

 



Dixie is our diva Papillion. Diva's don't have much time for chickens. She would much rather be lounging on the couch, but once in awhile she will give the chickens a chase.



 

 We have five mouser cats who protect the property from rodents.
This one is Mr. Goldie



 

 In the evening we let the chickens out to free range and get their fill of
 bugs, grass, and seeds. As a treat I spread corn out in the field for them.

 

 

Hope you enjoyed and have a blessed week



Introduction Of My Flock

I would like to introduce you to my flock.

Let us start with our main event when people come over to see the chickens. Meet Tuffy our mille fleur cochin,  While we were staying in Georgia a friend of ours gave me eggs of assorted breeds for incubation. We boxed them up and flew home to Colorado, placed them in my incubator and Tuffy was the only one to hatch (hence the name). 

 

next up is Mrs. Tuffy. Mr. and Mrs. Tuffy now live together in their humble home,

Helen Keller and the twins board with them. 

Grace Kelly is the daughter of Mr and Mrs. Tuffy, she is now living in the silkie's coop.

 

Helen Keller is my brave blind chicken, it is difficult for her to get around though you never hear her complain, she enjoys her days soaking up the sun. She is faithful to contribute her large white eggs.

 

The twins moved out from under their mother's wing, and now live with Mr. and Mrs. Tuffy to cut down on living expenses.

 

 

The big pen is where the majority of the standard breed chickens live,

 it includes a room full of

perches, laying area, and a large fence.

 

The Silkie Pen is where we keep our silkies and a small assortment of breeds.

 

 

I hope you enjoyed this introduction of my flock.

Drop by next week to see what's clucking at the pioneer farm.

 

My Chicken Beginning

I bought my first set of chickens back in 2009 from an elderly woman in our area who had an incubator made from an old dresser in her basement. My sister and I picked out eight of the chicks that we thought were the cutest.

 

We hadn't brought any thing with us to take them home in, so the lady gave us a brown paper bag to bring them home in. The paper bag just happened to come from Kentucky Fried Chicken.

 

 

She gave us instruction to care for the chickens and we headed home, KFC bag in hand.

We didn't know what we were getting in to...

 

 

We picked up a bag of chick starter and some feeders at a local farm supply store and made a makeshift brooder out of a cardboard box.

 

I have learned so much in the last five years about poultry farming and I continue to learn something new every day. I now own over seventy chickens and three ducks.

I got my own incubator for Christmas and hatched around thirty chicks last year.

I sell farm fresh eggs to locals I call it The Pioneer Girl Farm.

 

 

I'm Ramona,  thank you so much for stopping by and I hope you enjoy my stories of farming.

Have a great day and God bless.